Race and stereotypes in new media: an examination of how Internet news frames persons of color

The portrayal of race in news media has received much attention over the past few decades by scholars. Despite this, no unifying theoretical approach for analysis has been developed or employed. Further, little attention to Internet news has been paid. This dissertation was developed and carried out to address both issues. A content analysis of the top twenty Traditional and Non-Traditional news websites (as ranked by Alexa Media Research), was performed. A sample was collected from one year of news content resulting in a representative composite month for each website. Comparisons to United States Census data and examinations of stereotypic, stereotype-neutral and counter-stereotypic portrayals were conducted. Results from analyses performed reveal that stereotypes and misrepresentation persist in Internet news. Specifically, Arabs are represented at a rate far greater than one would expect and associated with terrorism. Native Americans are under-represented in comparison to their rate within the U.S. population and stereotyped as gamblers. Latinos are under-represented in comparison to U.S. Census data and are stereotyped in a multitude of negative manners (e.g., migrant workers and undocumented immigrants). Blacks are neither under-nor-over represented in comparison to their rate within the U.S. population, however are the most stereotyped group within the sample (e.g., crime, welfare, or drugs). When including presentations of Barack and Michelle Obama, Blacks see marginally more representations, however are still heavily stereotyped. Asians avoid socially problematic stereotypes and are associated with technology and science, while being under-represented in comparison to Census data. Whites, on the other hand, are portrayed in a balanced manner, over-represented in comparison to Census data. Non-Traditional news websites were found to be larger purveyors of such stereotypes. Finally, Top and Popular news sections within each site were found to contain especially stereotypic presentations. These findings are situated within a new Model of Racial Representation, born out of effects based research. This model suggests a state of representation for each group such that Native Americans and Asians are neglected; Blacks, Arabs and Latinos are in a state of imbalance, while Whites are in a state of symmetry. The utility and implications of the model scholarship are discussed. Limitations and potential directions for future research are explained in light of this dissertation’s findings.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Speech Communication

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Josey, Christopher Steven

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dixon, Travis L
• Tewksbury, David H.
• Quick, Brian
• Harrison, Kristen

• Stereotypes
• Content analysis
• Media effects
• Internet news
• Race

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Christopher Josey

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/88171

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/88171